When West Ham United fans have needed a high profile former player to give them a voice and hold the owners to account of late, legend Trevor Sinclair has stepped up to the plate.
‘I love West Ham but they’re going down’ says former Spurs star
West Ham is not the happiest camp at the moment.
A horrendous fixture list, back-to-back Premier League defeats and fan unrest have ushered in the new season for West Ham.
Hammers supporters are deeply unhappy with the club’s owners David Sullivan, David Gold and their vice-chairman Karren Brady.
There is even talk of a rift in the boardroom while takeover speculation has also enveloped the club.
Sullivan interview Hammers final nail in West Ham coffin
Despite just scraping survival last season there have been no new signings as yet. West Ham fans – and players – were outraged when young academy star Grady Diangana was sold to relegation rivals West Brom.
Now the manager David Moyes and two players – Issa Diop and Josh Cullen – will be missing for at least two weeks after testing positive for Covid-19.
It seems it never rains but pours at West Ham. But as some fans eloquently put on protest banners, some people create their own storms then moan when it rains.
Sullivan was certainly moaning yesterday when he broke a long media silence to give a bizarre, unhelpful and uninspiring interview to talkSPORT.
Washing the club’s dirty linen in public yet again, Sullivan’s comments have somehow made West Ham’s situation worse. And it only served to widen the yawning chasm between fans and the boardroom.
The extraordinary interview saw Sullivan bemoan West Ham’s progress in the Carabao Cup despite not having won a major trophy for 40 years.
Co-owner embarks on all too familiar blame game and even the fans aren’t immune
He blamed Pellegrini and West Ham fans for recent failings. Sullivan then blamed David Moyes for a lack of signings so far this summer.
He once again claimed West Ham are hamstrung by the global health crisis despite being the only club not to have made a new signing while Prem rivals have taken spending past the £1 billion mark.
Sullivan revealed the club’s transfer budget, discussed bids for players and cast doubt on the likelihood of any new arrivals.
He also said he did not regret selling Diangana.
And in true Sullivan style he also took credit for the signings of Lukasz Fabianski and Issa Diop in the previous regime.
But legend Sinclair – who recently called for the owners to sell up – was on hand to call Sullivan’s bluff over his comments.
First Sinclair took to Twitter, saying: “Facts: Grady Diangana is the real deal, West Ham need another left back and central defender, make it happen or it could be a painful season.”
Facts: Grady Diangana is the real deal, West Ham need another left back and central defender, make it happen or it could be a painful season ⚒
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) September 23, 2020
Trevor Sinclair calls Sullivan’s bluff in brilliant riposte
He then responded to Sullivan’s interview on talkSPORT.
“I can understand why David Moyes wants to bring in a central defender to start with because this is where the trouble begins,” Sinclair said on talkSPORT.
“He needs funding for a central defender. (Aaron) Cresswell played there as a third centre half against Arsenal and they did play well as a team, unlucky not to anything out of that game. But I said prior to the Newcastle game, this is a must win game, because if you look at their fixture list Arsenal have lost, they’ve got Wolves next, Leicester, Spurs, Manchester City, Liverpool.
“Their first points – and this is not trying to make this a drama – may be earned on the 7th of November against Fulham. Now if you’re thinking you’re going to get out of that hole any time quick, you’re mistaken.
‘Sullivan has made this bed for himself’
“There’s a problem because they’ve sold probably the best winger they’ve got (Diangana), him or (Jarrod) Bowen. I was there at (West Brom’s) game at Goodison Park and this boy is the real deal.
“Forget about the world class goal he scored, his game was unreal and I’m talking from a player that’s played that position, played over 600 games as a professional, this lad shows experience on the ball, his decision making on the ball, his end product, his dribbling, his passing quality, he had the lot. And Seamus Coleman, who is a really experienced player, didn’t know what to do with him.
“I think David (Sullivan) has made this bed for himself. He said to the West Ham fans, to get them to buy into moving to the London Stadium: ‘We’re going to be competitive and we’re going to go for the top six’ – it’s not worked out.
“Like he said on that interview he gave the money to (Manuel) Pellegrini who spent it poorly, West Ham are in a load of trouble, they bough (Tomas) Soucek and Bowen last season and they just about scraped and stayed in the Premier League.
“They need to add to that squad or else it’s going to be very uncomfortable.”